Climate change is a fundamental threat to sustainable development and the fight against poverty. The World Bank Group is concerned that without bold action now, the warming planet threatens to put prosperity out of reach of millions and roll back decades of development.
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Benin is a coastal West African country
with significant forests and biodiversity. It is also one of
the poorest countries in the world with a rapidly
deteriorating... Show More + ecological situation, including loss of forest
cover and land degradation. As a least developed country,
Benin is vulnerable to the effects of climate change through
desertification, rising sea levels, water scarcity, and
threats to agriculture. The country has received Global
Environment Facility (GEF) financial support since 1991
consisting of several projects and activities implemented in
collaboration with GEF Agencies. The Evaluation Office
synthesized these evaluations in its GEF Annual Country
Portfolio Evaluation Report 2008 to assess the experience
and common issues across different countries on the
continent. The Benin evaluation focused on 13 GEF national
projects that received $21 million in GEF funding; the first
three ongoing projects under the GEF Small Grants Program
worth a combined total of $150,000; and five regional
projects, for a total of $49.2 million, in which Benin
participates. The evaluation looked at project results and
assessed how well projects are linked to national
environmental and sustainable development strategies as well
as to the GEF mandate. Show Less -

Twelve World Bank Group projects provide
basic "energy services" such as lighting, radio,
television, and operation of small appliances to rural
households without access... Show More + to electricity grids through the
use of solar home systems. Among other objectives, projects
are designed to develop markets for solar home systems and
to overcome the key barriers to their widespread and
accelerated dissemination. Project designs continue to
evolve with increased understanding of best practices. Most
projects are just beginning implementation; none are yet
completed. This paper reviews key features of these
projects, experience from early implementation, and emerging
lessons applicable to future project design and evaluation. Show Less -